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Red Sox: Five players Boston needs to target in Free Agency this winter

By Brendan Mizgala

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 15: Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom addresses the departure of Alex Cora as manager of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference at Fenway Park on January 15, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. A MLB investigation concluded that Cora was involved in the Houston Astros sign stealing operation in 2017 while he was the bench coach. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 15: Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom addresses the departure of Alex Cora as manager of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference at Fenway Park on January 15, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. A MLB investigation concluded that Cora was involved in the Houston Astros sign stealing operation in 2017 while he was the bench coach. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Twins Jake Odorizzi
Aug 21, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (12) pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

SP: Jake Odorizzi

This one is based on past performance rather than what he’s done lately. We saw a lot of wild things happen during the 2020 season and Jake Odorizzi had quite a few directed his way. First, he strained his back during summer camp and had to miss time. Then when he returned he caught a line drive right to the chest and found himself back on the IL. Lastly, his season ended early as a blister sent him right back to the sidelines and he wasn’t able to return.

So, I’m just going to throw away his 2020 season as the lack of consistency caused his numbers to skyrocket from where he’d been in his previous years. He typically stays within the mid-3.00 to mid-4.00 range as far as his ERA is concerned, barring his rookie season. His best full season to date came last year where he was an All-Star bolstering a 3.51 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 1.208 WHIP with 178 strikeouts through 159 innings.

He’s had some years where those metrics may have been better but this was the first time it seemed like he truly put the puzzle together. As far as where I see him fitting in with this rotation I believe he’d be a strong three or four in the rotation. In my mind Sale, and E-Rod would reclaim their spots at the top with Nathan Eovaldi coming in at a three/four and Martin Perez ending the rotation.

Like Bauer in the previous slide, having Odorizzi on the staff would allow whoever is sitting in the manager’s seat next year to balance things out in a lefty-heavy rotation.

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